Downtown Mermaid Parade & the Aqua Faire

The Mermaid Society SMTX will be putting their tails to the pavement on Saturday, Sept. 21 for the 4th Annual Downtown Mermaid Promenade.

Plans are already being made and floats are being designed for this year’s celebration of San Marcos’ unique and vibrant creative community, and the iconic mermaid symbol that embodies the spirit, heritage and culture of the city of San Marcos and the river that runs through it.

The Downtown Mermaid Promenade is a cornerstone event of the annual Mermaid Society SMTX SPLASH Festival – SPLASH standing for stewardship, preservation, local, arts, sustainability and heritage – a celebration of all things San Marcos.

The Ratcliffgardy family blows bubbles and waves from the back of their “Mer-made in the USA” themed float in the 2018 Mermaid Promenade. Daily Record photo by Denise Cathey

The parade has an average of 100 entries and over 5,000 spectators every year and continues to entice generations to come out and enjoy the free community event. From marching bands to floats teeming with mermaids to individuals in some of the most colorful homemade outfits joining the promenade — locals and non-locals alike can revel in the spirit of the occasion. This all-inclusive city parade pays tribute to the historic Aquarena Springs Park — and the Aquamaids that performed there — as well as pays homage the unique history and ecology of the San Marcos River, according to Mermaid Society founder July Moreno.

“This is community pride. This is us getting out in the community and connecting and showcasing the very best of San Marcos,” Moreno said. “The mermaid is, simply put, the icon for the ideology of uniting as a community and championing the river. This is that, this is that moment. We want everybody to be a part of it and everybody's invited to be a part of it — that’s why it is all inclusive and free.”

The Downtown Mermaid Promenade highlights selected honorees representing the arts, river guardianship, and heritage of San Marcos. This year’s parade will feature the 2019 King of SPLASH and Mermaid Queen, Tom and Paula Goynes. This year’s Parade Marshals are Katinka Pinka and Lee Wallace. San Marcos residents since 2003, Pinka and Wallace are natural innovators that have had many influences on the community and local creative scenes. In addition to sharing their energy and direction to numerous projects in town, Wallace is especially committed to his role as a member, donor and volunteer of the San Marcos Community Gardens since 2008. In 2012, Pinka opened Bowerbird Antiques & Curiosities at 215 N. Comanche Street and she has been involved with Mermaid Society since its founding. Mermaid Society nominated them as parade marshals because when there is an opportunity for creativity and leadership, they are there.

A Mermaid from Adventure Scuba in Plano swims between strands of wild rice in the San Marcos River. Daily Record file photo by Toy Mendez

Other Royal Court members to be featured in the parade are Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos as the Heritage Honoree for its tireless work to create a space where the history and heritage of the Hispanic community in San Marcos can be celebrated and exhibited; Melani Howard as the River Guardianship Honoree for her hard work, leadership, passion and commitment that inspires and fiercely impacts love and care for the San Marcos River and surrounding Texas Hill Country waterways; and Hays County Historical Commission Chair Kate Johnson as the Arts, Culture & Preservation Honoree for her work to protect and preserve the history of Texas and Hays County in particular.

The Downtown Mermaid Promenade will feature floats, marchers, dancers, and music as well as entertainment from authentic Polynesian tribal dance and percussion group Hula Halau Kae'epa and the Drums of Tahiti Revue.

YOLOTx, the traveling show that covers entertainment, food and things to do across Texas, will be the main announcer of this year’s parade. They will also be shooting video of the entire celebration for an episode about the city’s mermaid festivities. KZSM Community Radio and Stacy Rickard of Spectrum News will also be giving live announcements for the parade.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. at the corner of CM Allen and Cheatham Street and ends at San Marcos Plaza Park. There will be plenty of viewing options along the parade route and parade announcers will introduce registered participants as they pass. Check in at several eateries along the parade route that plan to host spectator parties — Patio Dolcetto , Aquabrew and Sean Patricks all have planned events.

AquaBrew is this year’s presenting sponsor for the Downtown Mermaid Promenade.

Cousins Cassy Franco and Frida Aguilar had a front-row seat to view the 2017 promenade.  Daily Record file photo by Colton Ashabranner

The Mermaid Society is still accepting registrations for spots in the parade. Those interested in applying can register on the Mermaid Society’s website.

The fun continues immediately following the parade at the Mermaid Aqua Faire at San Marcos Park Plaza from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The San Marcos River serves as the backdrop to this festival that has something for almost everyone — live music, a juried art market, food booths, an eco village and a KIDzone.

This year’s Art Market will be coordinated by the San Marcos Art League. Organizers have 60 artisan vendors from all over the Hill Country showing at the curated market. All proceeds from the art market vendor fees benefit the San Marcos Art League and their many projects.

Live music for the Aqua Faire will start at 12:30 p.m. and include performances by Time of Night Brass Band, The Roy Brothers, Those Nights and The Revs.

Festival-goers can also learn about environmental stewardship at the Eco Village, and take part in the variety of interactive activities planned for the whole family. Organizations like the San Marcos River Foundation, Eyes of the San Marcos River, TreeFolks and other organizations that focus on the environmental stewardship of local water resources will have hands-on workshops, presentations by environmental experts and art-inspired learning projects for kids and adults.

Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos’ ArtSpace program will be coordinating the KIDzone area this year and will have a variety of interactive and fun art projects for children to create during the Aqua Faire, all free of charge.

Mermaids will also be out and about during the Aqua Faire, sunbathing on the banks of the San Marcos River or perhaps swimming in the crisp 72 degree water — either way mermaid sightings are a guarantee. There will also be a Mermaid Photobooth so that attendees can take photos with Maya the Mermaid as well as other mermaids.

The presenting sponsor for this year’s Aqua faire is Wonder World Cave and Park. For more information about the Aqua Faire, go to Mermaid Society's website.